Mechanical toilet



Sepf. 18, 1962 R. T. CELLA MECHANICAL TOILET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 28, 1960 Afro/FIVE) Sept- 1962 R. T. CELLA 3,054,117

MECHANICAL TOILET Filed Nov. 28. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 37 u E 2e 28 I "34 3e, 35' 7 3,054,117 MECHANICAL TOILET Richard T. Celia, Clarksville Road, RR. 1, Trenton, NJ. Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 72,021 5 Claims. (Cl. 4115) This invention relates to a mechanical toilet and more particularly to a toilet having mechanical means to remove the material from the bowl.

An object is to provide a toilet for use in airplanes or in small boats or the like where disposal is now a diflicult problem.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved toilet of the above type which does not require the use of large quantities of water for flushing.

Another object is to provide a toilet of the above type wherein the waste material is completely contained in a permanent cleanable container or in a disposable cntainer which can be removed and replaced as required.

Another object is to provide a toilet of the above type which is compact in space requirements and relatively light in weight.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The invention provides in general a waste container which extends around the outside of the bowl as a horseshoe or circle and is connected at one end or side to a sump in the bottom of the bowl by a passage containing a mechanical feeder. In the embodiment shown the feeder takes the form of a feed screw or of a reciprocating piston. The feeder forces the waste material under pressure through a check valve in the container Where it is held until the container is cleaned or removed, as at the end of a flight or trip.

The invention also provides a source of detergent and includes a rinse cycle wherein the surface of the bowl is rinsed by a detergent wash using a minimum of liquid before and after use.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment has been shown for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toilet embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the mechanical feed mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section illustrating a piston type feed mechanism embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale illustrating the mechanical feed mechanism of FIG. 4; and

PEG. 6 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an embodiment of the invention having a disposable container.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the invention is shown as applied to a toilet having a bowl 10 which is generally conical in shape and terminates in a sump 11 at the bottom. The waste container or receiver is shown in the form of a horseshoe shaped member 12 which is disposed around the lower portion of the bowl 10 with its two ends 13 and 14 at the front. The end 13 is connected to the sump 11 by a closed passage 15 formed by a tapered sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 is threaded at its end and carries a threaded nut 17 which is adjustable along the sleeve and has a smooth outer surface making a slid ing fit within a flange '18 attached to the container 12 and surrounding an inlet opening 19 therein. A threaded collar 29 is disposed on the flange 18 and is formed 3,054,117 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 with a flange 21 adapted to seal against the nut 17 with an interposed sealing ring 22. A spider 25 is disposed over the opening 19 in the container 12 and carries an axial pin 26 on which is mounted a valve plunger 28 spring pressed by a spring 29 against a valve seat 30 in a ring 31 carried by the spider.

A tapered, helical feed screw 33 is mounted in the sleeve 16 with its end fitting the end 34 of the pin and with the end 35 of the helical vanes 36 closely adjacent radial cutting members 37 forming a part of the spider. The feed screw 33 is mounted on a shaft 38 which extends through the wall of the sump 11 and carries a worm wheel 39 engaging a worm 40' on the shaft 41 of a motor 42.

The arrangement is such that when the feed screw is actuated by the motor 42 the material in the sump 11 is forced mechanically by the helical vanes 36 along the passage 15, is comminuted by the cutting edges 37 and is forced against the pressure of the spring 29 through the valve opening 19. The valve recloses when the pressure thereon is relieved thereby sealing the container.

The container 12 is provided with drain plugs 43 at the ends 13 and 14- which may be removed for flushing out the container, for example by attaching a water hose at one end opening and placing a waste pipe at the other end opening. This may be done when the vehicle is serviced at the end of a run. Alternatively the container 12 may be made of a disposable material or a disposable bag may be placed therein. A relief valve 44 may also be provided on the container 12 to avoid the building up of air pressure therein.

A horseshoe shaped container for a detergent liquid is shown as disposed around the bowl 1% adjacent the container 12. This last container is connected by a pipe 51 to a perforated ring-shaped pipe 52 disposed within the top of the bowl 10 under an inturned flange 53 thereof. The pipe 51 contains a remote controlled valve 54 by which the flow of detergent to the ring pipe 52 may be controlled. The liquid is maintained under pressure in the container 50 so that when valve 54 in the pipe 51 is open detergent liquid will be discharged around the inner surface of the bowl 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

The motor 4-2 and the valve 54 are controlled automatically by means not shown to operate in a cycle to first wet the inside of the bowl 10 with detergent then to operate the motor to feed waste material into the container 12 and then to rewash the inner surface of the bowl with detergent liquid. In this way the bowl is maintained clean at all times and the sump 111 is cleaned with the use of a minimum of flushing liquid.

The bowl 10 is shown as attached to the sump :11 by flanges 55 for easy removal to expose the containers for servicing. Alternatively the containers may be made sectional.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modification of the feed mechanisrn wherein the screw feed is replaced by a reciprocating piston 61 In this case the sleeve 16a is cylindrical and the piston is slidably mounted therein. The piston carries a skirt 61 which is of sufiicient length to close the sump 11 when the piston 60 is advanced. The rear of the skirt 61 is cut away and terminates in a hub 62 in which a spindle 63 is threaded. The spindle 63 carries the worm wheel 39. The arrangement is such that rotation of the worm wheel and spindle in one direction advances the piston 66 and rotation of the worm wheel and spindle in the reverse direction retracts the piston. Suitable reversing connections are made to the motor so that the piston 6% is advanced and then retracted in the feeding cycle. A vent valve is carried by the sleeve 16:: to eliminate suction effect when the piston is retracted. The

apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5 is otherwise similar to that previously described.

Referring to FIG. 6, a cylindrical wall 16b corresponds to the sleeve 16 of FIGS. 1 to 4 or the sleeve l6a, FIG. 5. In this embodiment a removable sleeve 65 carrying a disposable container 66 is disposed over the wall 16b and is clamped thereto by a threaded nut 67 and a packing ring 68. The bag 66 is disposed over an enlarged end portion 69 of the sleeve 65 and may be secured thereto by rings 70. The sleeve 65 carries radial arms 71 supporting a hub 72 in which a rod 73 carrying a valve head 74 is slidable. The valve head seats against aligned tapering surfaces 75 and 76 on the ends of the sleeve 65 and the wall 16b, respectively. The valve is held seated by a spring 2912.

In this form the valve is removed with the sleeve 65 and the bag 66 and serves as a permanent closure therefor during disposal.

What is claimed is: V

l. A mechanical toilet comprising a bowl, a sump having a first transverse feed passage open at the top disposed at the bottom of said bowl to receive waste material therefrom, a tubular housing extending laterally from said sump and having a feed passage registering with said first feed passage and terminating in a discharge opening, mechanical feed means in said feed passages having movable members adapted to force said waste material along said passages to said discharge opening, a closed waste receiver positioned adjacent said housing and having an inlet opening registering with said discharge opening, a ring member mounted in said inlet opening having a sleeve extending over said tubular housing and clamped thereto, a valve seat carried by said ring member, an inwardly opening valve carried by said ring member, spring means holding said valve closed against said valve seat and adapted to allow said valve to open in response to external pressure, said sleeve forming a closed passage between the end of said feed means and said valve whereby the pressure of said material causes said valve to open for the injection of said material into said receiver, said valve 4 being removable with said receiver when said sleeve is withdrawn from said tubular housing.

2. A mechanical toilet as set forth in claim 1 in which said valve is of the mushroom type having a head and a valve stem and said ring member is provided with a support in which said valve stem' slides.

3. A mechanical 'toflet as set forth in claim 1 in Which said mechanical feed means comprises a feed screw mounted in said passages and having helical feed vanes for advancing the material to said discharge opening.

4. A mechnical toilet as set forth in claim 1 in which said mechanical feed means comprises a piston in said passage and having a skirt extending rearwardly therefrom to close the passage in said sump when said piston is advanced so that Waste material is prevented from being deposited in back of said piston.

5. A mechanical toilet comprising a bowl, a sump having a first transverse feed passage open at the top disposed at the bottom of said bowl to receive Waste material therefrom, a tubular housing extending laterally from said sump and having a feed passage registering with said first feed passage and terminating in a discharge opening, mechanical feed means in said feed passages having movable members adapted to force said waste material along said passages to said discharge opening, a closed waste receiver having an inlet opening registering with said discharge opening, a ring member mounted in said inlet opening, a valve seat carried by said ring member, an inwardly opening valve carried by said ring member, spring means holding said valve closed against said valve seat and adapted to allow said valve to open in response to external pressure, means forming a closed passage between the. end of said feed means and said valve whereby the pressure of said material causes said valve to open for the injection of said material into said receiver.

2,435,845 Rice Feb. 10, 1948 King Sept. 24, 1957 

